CSUN Knocks Off First-Place Hawai'i, 84-60, For Fifth Straight Win

Saturday, February 14

Northridge, Calif.

5:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

16-10,9-5Big West

Hawai'i

18-6,10-4Big West

Hawaii

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Knocks Off First-Place Hawai'i, 84-60, For Fifth Straight Win

2/14/2026 9:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball moved within a game of first place in the Big West, knocking off conference-leading Hawai'i 84-60 on Saturday at Premier America Credit Union Arena. The Matadors would not trail in the contest and lead by as many as 30 points. With the win, CSUN has won a season-high five straight games.

Larry Hughes scored a game-high 27 points, shooting 5-of-6 from three while Josiah Davis added 20 points, five assists and two blocks. Off the bench, Jai Chisolm finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with five rebounds and four steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Following a 2-2 start to the game, CSUN took control at the outset with an 8-0 run as Davis made it a 10-2 game at the 16:33 mark of the first half. The Matadors built a double-digit lead a minute later when Jordan Brinson knocked down a three for a 15-5 lead. The Bows closed to within two on an 8-0 run, but CSUN quickly picked up a three from Hughes to slow the uprising. The Matadors' offense would lean on Hughes in the first half who scored 17 points in the period. Hughes scored inside at the 3:12 mark before nailing a step back three just seconds later to extend the lead to 36-26. The Matadors ended the first half on a 9-2 run with Hughes making two at the free throw line for a 40-28 lead at the break.

13 points in the first 13 minutes for @Sn1perSmooth.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/zF1r1lQs2r
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) February 15, 2026

Out of intermission, Hawai'i scored the first five points to start the second half, pulling to within 40-33. However, the seven-point deficit was the closest the Bows would get the rest of the way. CSUN quickly came away with an 8-0 run, capped by a Grady Lewis putback. Chisolm knocked down a three at the 15:31 mark to extend the lead further at 56-38. The lead then swelled to 22 at 60-38 when Hughes sank a pullup jumper while Davis made back-to-back layups near the 11-minute mark to make it a 68-41 game. Shortly after threes from Chisolm and Hughes, the Matadors had their biggest lead of the night at 74-44 with 9:27 left to go. CSUN would shoot 61.5 percent in the second half with Davis and Chisolm combining for 24 points in the period as the Matadors cruised to the double-digit victory.

Jai Chisolm folks.

14 points after this slam.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/Ajq7WByqje
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) February 15, 2026

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improved to 16-10 overall and 9-5 in Big West play while Hawai'i dropped to 18-6 overall and 10-4 in conference.
Powered by a big second half, the Matadors finished shooting 52.6 percent overall and made 9-of-17 from three (52.9 percent) and 15-of-21 from the free throw line (71.4 percent). The Rainbow Warriors were held to 35.7 percent shooting overall as they made 7-of-26 threes (26.9 percent) and 13-of-20 free throws (65.0 percent).
Hawai'i finished with a slight 38-36 edge in rebounding.
The Matadors outscored the Bows 38-22 in points in the paint, 25-14 in points off turnovers and 28-21 in bench points.
CSUN limited Hawai'i to 60 points, the least amount of points the Bows have scored in Big West play.
Off the bench, Lewis scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds while Brinson was 2-of-2 from three for six points.
The Matadors are now 12-1 at Premier America Credit Union Arena this season.

ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"They came out here and wanted it. They responded to Hawai'i coming in here and played one of the best both sides of the ball performances that I think we've had all year.

"Everything about being home, being in front of this CSUN crowd is motivation enough for these guys to get after it and put their best foot forward. This is a tough place to get a win."

UP NEXT
CSUN returns to the road next week to take on UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister will call the action in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

#GoMatadors